Key Takeaways
- The RIT Men’s Hockey team will travel to Clarkson on Monday for its first game in over three weeks following the holiday break.
- The Tigers are looking to bounce back from a 1-5-0 slide, during which they have been out-scored 17-8.
- RIT has a strong penalty-killing unit, ranking third nationally with a.909 penalty-killing percentage.
- Sophomore goaltender Jakub Krbecek is having a standout season, ranking third nationally with a 1.75 goals-against average and fourth with a.932 save percentage.
- The Tigers have a number of players who have made an immediate impact, including first-year forwards William Moore, Zach Wigle, and Evan Konyen, who have combined for 25 points.
Introduction to the RIT Men’s Hockey Team
The RIT Men’s Hockey team is set to take on Clarkson on Monday, marking their first game in over three weeks following the holiday break. The Tigers are looking to bounce back from a 1-5-0 slide, during which they have been out-scored 17-8. Despite this, the team has shown promise, with a number of players making significant contributions. The team’s schedule has been challenging, with a nine-game stretch that included only one home game. However, the Tigers are looking to turn things around, starting with their upcoming game against Clarkson.
Recent Performance
The Tigers most recently split an Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) home-and-home series against Canisius, snapping a four-game skid with a 3-1 home victory on Dec. 5, before falling 4-2 the following night in Buffalo. The team’s offense has been inconsistent, with the Tigers being out-scored 17-8 over their last six outings. However, the team’s defense has been strong, with sophomore goaltender Jakub Krbecek making a number of key saves. Krbecek has been one of the standout players for the Tigers, ranking third nationally with a 1.75 goals-against average and fourth with a.932 save percentage.
Penalty-Killing Unit
The Tigers have a strong penalty-killing unit, ranking third nationally with a.909 penalty-killing percentage. This has been a key factor in the team’s success, with the Tigers allowing only five goals in 55 opponent power play attempts. The team’s penalty-killing unit has been led by a number of players, including senior forward Simon Isabelle, who has been strong in the faceoff circle. Isabelle has a.570 faceoff winning percentage, which is among the nation’s leaders.
Impact Players
The Tigers have a number of players who have made an immediate impact, including first-year forwards William Moore, Zach Wigle, and Evan Konyen. The trio has combined for 25 points, with Konyen and Wigle each tallying nine points on four goals and five assists. Moore has notched three goals, including back-to-back game-winners against Air Force and Colgate. The team’s veterans have also been strong, with senior forward Tyler Mahan returning with five career shorthanded goals to his name, tied for the most in the nation entering the season.
Head Coach Matt Thomas
RIT Head Coach Matt Thomas is off to a solid start to his first season behind the bench in Rochester. Thomas, a former RIT captain, took the reins at his alma mater last spring, becoming only the eighth head coach in program history. Thomas has over 26 years of experience at both the NCAA Division I and professional ranks, including the last four seasons as an assistant coach with the Providence Bruins – the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the NHL Boston Bruins. Thomas has been able to draw on this experience to help the Tigers, who are looking to bounce back from a 10-23-2 finish last season.
Program History
RIT has a rich program history, with the team having made 16 NCAA Tournament appearances since 1983. The Tigers won the 1983 Division II National Championship before winning the Division III National Championship in 1985. The team has also finished as Division III runner-up in 1989, 1996, and 2001, while making semifinal appearances in 1984, 1986, 1999, and 2010. The Tigers made the NCAA Tournament in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2010, 2015, and 2016.
NCAA Division I History
The Tigers have been a part of the NCAA Division I ranks since 2005-06, and have made five NCAA Tournament appearances at this level. The team’s most notable finish was in 2010, when they reached the Frozen Four in their first postseason appearance. The Tigers were also one win away from duplicating this feat in 2014-15, after upsetting overall top-seed Minnesota State, 1-0, in the Midwest Region Semifinals. The team is looking to build on this success, starting with their upcoming game against Clarkson.
